Are you ready to take your child to their very first dental visit? Their first visit can be as early as six to twelve months after their first tooth erupts.
Our Amherst pediatric dentist has been serving the communities of Amherst and Williamsville for decades and would be glad to help you ease your child into a lifelong oral health journey.
Please keep reading to learn how to get ready for your child’s first appointment. We gladly offer free consultations for our new visitors. Call the office today to get your child on our appointment book.
How to Prepare for Your Child’s First Dental Visit
The following tips help you prepare your child for their first dental visit. Please reach out to our Amherst dentist if you have any questions.
Day of Prep
It may be a good idea to schedule your visit for the point in the day where you know your child is less likely to fuss. Scheduling appointments for when they are supposed to be down for a nap can make this a challenging first visit.
Explain to your child that they are going to be going to their very first dental visit. Try to get them excited to go and bolster them if they show that they are fearful of going.
Preparing Yourself
If you have dental anxiety, be open and honest with your child’s dentist about it. Your child may have very different feelings about going to see the dentist. Remember that children are sponges. If they see that going to the dentist makes you anxious, they may also adopt that fear.
Health History
Preparing your dentist’s office is just as important as being prepared yourself. Bring in their complete health history. It will be important for your dentist to have this information as your child grows and eventually may require treatments.
If you have seen other dentists in the past and you know your child is nervous, let us know. We can help them through their dental anxieties. If you are concerned about your appointment for any reason, please reach out to us right away.
Common Concerns for the First Dental Visit
You may think that your child does not need to see a dentist until they have adult teeth. However, some concerns may arise well before that first baby tooth falls out.
Did you know that babies can have tooth decay from constantly drinking milk? The sugars from both breast milk and formula can coat their brand new teeth and cause decay.
You may be worried about how their pacifier use and thumb sucking will affect their health in the future.
A pediatric dentist can also help you learn how to care for your little one’s teeth.
What to Expect at the Appointment
The main goal of this first dental visit is to get your child comfortable with going to the dentist. We aim to make it quick, thorough and calming for both you and your child. During the appointment, we can examine their teeth, gums, bite alignment, and jaw.
Together, you and your child can be shown proper oral hygiene care to do at home that is age-appropriate for your child.
Because these teeth will fall out, we usually do not perform any X-rays unless absolutely necessary. X-rays are only done when the benefits outweigh the risk or the child is old enough to have adult teeth.
Your child can expect to see the dentist at least twice a year after their first visit.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Today
We understand that getting your child ready to set foot into a new environment for the first time can feel stressful. We make this process as easy as possible for you and your child. Let us help you prepare for your child’s first dental visit by requesting a free consultation with our Amherst pediatric dentist. We would love to hear from you.
